Twin marble skill game



Dec. 7, 1937. A, SZABQ TWIN MARBLEISKILL GAME Filed July 25, 193? INVENTOR fllexaza-rfizaa BYW ATTO R N EY Patented Dec. 7, 1937 PATENT OFFICE TWINMARBLE SKILL GAME Alexander Szabo, Linden, N. J. Application July 23, 1937, Serial No. 155,194

6 Claims.

This invention relates'to new and useful improvements in a twin marble skill game.

The invention has for an object the construction of a game as mentioned which is characterized by the fact that it has a body comprising a base" portion and a top portion, the top portion being formed of several vertical walls dividing off a space with'an open top, and a pair of iden-- tic'all' chutes longitudinally of said space and adjacenteach other and extendingin opposite directions and each having an I outer portion rested against certain of said vertical walls.

" Furthermore, the invention proposes the provision of' shooters on the inner portion of each chute. operable from the outside of the base portion. l:

Another one of the objects of this invention resides in the provision of ameans for holding the outer end of eachchute vertically adjustable relativeto' the vertical walls for varying the inclination of the chute and; thus the skill required in operating the 'device.

- Still further'theinvention proposes the provisionof a scoreboard for each chute spaced from the outer 'end thereof and adapted to receive balls shot throughthe chute and formed with a plurality of openings representing different score values through which the expelled balls may pass. For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference willbe had to the following description and acc0mpanying"drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:-

'Fig. 1 .is' a plan view of a game constructed accordingto this invention.

. Fig. '2 is an elevational View looking in the direction of the line12 -2 of Fig. 1.

1 Fig.3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1. Fig'. 4 is a longitudinal sectional the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

, Fig.v 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed horizontal sectional'view taken'on the line. 5-5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6of- Fig. 5. i V

vThe twin marble skill game, according to this invention; includes a body [0 having a base portion Ill and atop portion I0". The top'portion 49b is formed from several vertical walls dividing off-a space with an open top. The base por- Ftionrlt is of hollow disc formation. It is supview taken on.

A pair of identical chutes l2 and 12 are arranged longitudinally of the space between the walls of the top portion Ill and are adjacent each other and extend in opposite directions. Each of these chutes has an outer portion l2 bearing against one of the vertical walls of the top portion lll Each Iofthese chutes has inner ends l2 extending through the'hollow base Ill to the perimeter thereof. V

A ball shooter is mounted on the inner portion 12 on each of the 'chute's and is operable from the outside on-the base portion. Each of these ball shooters comprises a plunger l3 formed with heads-l3 and l3 at its endsJ Intermediate of the plunger l3 there is an expansion spring M which acts against the outer head l3 and stop elements 15 mounted on theinner face of the wall of the inner portion I2 of the chute. Adjacent each head l3 there is a striker element It whichis' mounted on a member I! pivotally supported on the outside of the base portion Ili The member H has its outer'e'nd bent into a hook portion Il by which it may be easily gripped with the fingers. The inner end ll is pivotally connected with a hinge element l8 mounted on the base portion Ill A leaf spring I9 is fixedly clamped at one of its ends by the hinge element I8 and extends over the member I1 and normally urges it inwards. The arrangement issuch that the member Il may be manually pivoted outwards as indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 5, and when released it will shoot inwards and 's'trikeagainst the plunger I3 forcing the plunger inwards to-the full line position shown in Fig. 5. "The dot and dash line position of the plunger represents the-position it will assume when the member ll is pivoted outwards.

Each of the chutes has a base wall l2 and side walls l2 and I2 The side walls. I2 are straight as clearly shown in Fig. 1. But the side walls I2 are curved at their inner ends to join up with the inner portion I2 of the chute. The inner portion l2 is of tubular formation and is adapted to have its free end slidably engage into a receiving tube portion 20 mounted on the inner face of the peripheral wall of the base portion Ill The curved wall I2 serves to guide returning balls to the striking end iii of the plunger l3 as hereinafter more fully described.

There is a means for holding the outer end 12 of each chute vertically adjustably mounted relative to the vertical walls of the'top portion means comprises several pegs 2| projecting from the outer portion i2 and selectively engageable in certain of a plurality of openings 22 formed in the adjacent vertical wall of the top portion lll Some of the vertical walls of the top portion Ill are formed with dart shaped cutouts 23 adapted to add to the flexibility of the walls. The arrangement is such that the vertical walls of the top portion Hl may be easily flexed outwards to disengage the pegs 2| from the openings 22 and to re-engage them in adjusted positions of the chute.

A score board 25 is associated with each chute and is spaced from the outer end thereof and is fixedly mounted on the outer end of the adjacent chute. For example, the score board 25 of the chute i2 is fixedly mounted by several rivets 26 to the adjacent side wall of the chute l2. The score board 25' of the chute l 2' is fixedly mounted by several rivets 26 to the side wall of the chute i2. Each score board is formed with a low center portion and sloping side portions so that there is a tendency for the balls to roll to the low point. The score boards 25 and 25 are formed with a plurality of openings 28, the edge portions of which are imprinted with different values and representing points when the game is played.

The outer end l2 of each chute is of curved shape so as to have the tendency of directing a ball over the score board. This may be understood by examining Fig. 4 and noting the ball 29 which is adapted to be shot by the ball shooter. As this ball travels along, at one point in its course it will reach the position 29 traveling up along the curved base portion l2 and guided from falling off the sides of the base portion I2 by the side walls l2 and I2 At another point of travel it will reach the position 29 and at this point it is being directed over the score board 25. In another position it will be at the point 29 on the score board and will be guided to fall through one of the openings, scoring a certain amount of points.

The operation of the device is as follows:-

Each player plays in turn, and have posts opposite each other, each player playing with one of the ball shooters. The player pulls out the member H to a distance which he judges will be proper to shoot the ball to obtain the highest scoring value. Then when the member I! is released it will be snapped inwards by the spring i9 and the striker [6 will hit the plunger 53, which in turn hits the ball 29 and causes the ball to run along the chute and be discharged on the scoring board. It falls through the openings in the scoring board and rolls back to its original position in front of the shooter l3. The player is now ready for the second shot.

The power requirements for shooting the ball to obtain a high score may be varied by changing the conditions of the chutes. The outer ends of each chute may be adjusted upwards or downwards to several positions by engaging the pegs 2! in diiferent openings 22 in the vertical side walls of the top portion I0 As one chute is adjusted the score board of the adjacent chute will be correspondingly moved since each score board is rigidly attached by rivets to the side of the adjacent chute.

t is to be understood that my skill game may be in any desired shape and the base ll may support the game device so that the latter may be rotated thereon.

2,101,657 It for varying the inclination of the chute. This While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself tothe precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a body having a base portion and a top portion comprising several vertical walls dividing off a space with an open top, a pair of identical chutes longitudinally of said space and adjacent each other and extending in opposite directions and each having an outer portion and an inner portion, a ball shooter in the inner portion of each chute and operable from the outside of said base portion, means for holding the outer end of each chute vertically adjustable relative to said vertical walls for varying the inclination of the chutes, and a score board for each chute spaced from the outer end thereof and mounted on the outer end of the adjacent chute.

2. In a device of the class described, a body having a base portion and a top portion comprising several vertical walls dividing off a space with an open top, a pair of identical chutes 1ongitudinally of said space and adjacent each other and extending in opposite directions and each having an outer portion and an inner portion, a ball shooter in the inner portion of each chute and operable from the outside of said base portion, means for holding the outer end of each chute vertically adjustable relative to said vertical walls for varying the inclination of the chutes, and a score board for each chute spaced from the outer end thereof and mounted on the outer end of the adjacent chute, said body being supported on a pedestal.

3. In a device of the class described, a body having a base portion and a top portion comprising several vertical walls dividing oif a space with an open top, a pair of identical chutes longitudinally of said space and adjacent each other and extending in opposite directions and each having an outer portion and an inner portion, a ball shooter in the the inner portion of each chute and operable from the outside of said base portion, means for holding the outer end of each chute vertically adjustable relative to said vertical walls for varying the inclination of the chutes, and a score board for each chute spaced from the outer end thereof and mounted on the outer end of the adjacent chute, the base por-- tion of said body being of hollow disc formation.

4. In a device of the class described, a body having a base portion and a top portion comprising several vertical walls dividing off a space with an open top, a pair of identical chutes longitudinally of said space and adjacent each other and extending in opposite directions and each having an outer portion and an inner portion, a ball shooter in the inner portion of each chute and operable from the outside of said base portion, means for holding the outer end of each chute vertically adjustable relative to said vertical walls for varying the inclination of the chutes, and a score board for each chute spaced from the outer end thereof and mounted on the outer end of the adjacent chute, the inner portion of each chute being of tubular formation connecting with the main portion of the chute comprising a curved base and side walls, and a curved outer end adapted to direct shot balls over and on the score board. 7

5. In a device of the class described, a body having a base portion and atop portion comprising several vertical walls dividing oif a space with an open top, a pair' of identical chutes longitudinally of said space and adjacent each other and extending in opposite directions and each having an outer portion and an inner portion, a ball shooter in the inner portion of each chute and operable from the outside of said base portion, means for holding the outer end of each chute vertically adjustable relative to said vertical walls for varying. the inclination of the chutes, and a score board for each chute spaced from the outer end thereof and mounted on the outer end of the adjacent'chute. the inner portion of each chute being'of tubular formation connecting with the main portion of the chute comprising a curved base and side walls, and a curved outer end adapted to direct shot balls over and on the score board, said means for holding the outer end of each chute comprising pegs mounted on the chute and engageable with openings in the adjacent vertical wall.

6. In a device of the class described, a body having a base portion and a top portion comprising several vertical walls dividing off a. space with an open top, a pair of identical chutes longitudinally of said space and adjacent each other and extending in opposite directions and each having an outer portion and an inner portion, a ball shooter in the inner portion of each chute and operable from the outside of said base portion, means for holding the outer end of each chute vertically adjustable relative to said vertical walls for varying the inclination of the chutes, and a score board for each chute spaced from the outer end thereof and mounted on the outer end of the adjacent chute, said score board being formed with openings imprinted with difierent point values through which the balls may pass. 20

ALEXANDER SZABO. 

